Joffrey Lupul is coming back to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup – and just in time.

Lupul, who is coming off of his best offensive season, suffered a fractured arm in the team’s third game of the season in January against Pittsburgh after being struck by a shot from Leafs’ captain, Dion Phaneuf. The Leafs staff has cleared the team’s alternate captain to return to the ice just in time to face off against the Winnipeg Jets this Saturday in Toronto.

To make room, the Leafs have traded centre David Steckel to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for right-winger Ryan Lasch, who is headed for the Toronto Marlies, and the Ducks’ seventh-round draft pick.

David Steckel of the Toronto Maple Leafs hits Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators into the glass at the Air Canada Centre.

Steckel, who had been a healthy scratch, was known to be one of the best faceoff winning players in the league (and for sending Sid the Kid home with a concussion). Some have questioned whether his abilities were actually better than Toronto’s current fourth line consisting of Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren, but given their ability to play a physical game, and Randy Carlyle’s commitment to this duo, it seems this benchwarmer trade was for the better. Steckel had only one assist in his 13 games played with Toronto this season.

David Steckel may be best known as the guy who delivered the hit that concussed Sidney Crosby. Photo: Getty Images

According to multiple reports, Lupul went through full practice on Friday and has been cleared for contact. But the question is — where will Lupul play? Even with the movement of Steckel, that still leaves James van Riemsdyk, who took over Lupul’s spot in the top line up. JVR, Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak (who score Toronto’s only goal last night against Pittsburgh), have played well together — so switching this up, doesn’t necessarily make a whole lot of sense.

The Leafs are mired in a four-game winless streak and the bandwagon jumpers are jumping off.